When it comes to software upgrades, associations are often forced to go astray, partly because of the cost of digesting and implementing new approaches.
But in the long run, it’s important to consider what your organization needs and doesn’t need. It takes research, and now is the time to start.
The tools below are not easily replaceable like smartphone apps. Committing to a piece of software takes time to switch over, so expect some tough debates before moving forward.
But with that in mind, here are some tools that may need reconsideration in 2023.
expense reporting software
Expense reports are like a necessary evil. Organizations need to track and reimburse expenses. However, if you have a system that is difficult to manage or that requires a lot of manual entry, there can be a backlog for employees to actually create expense reports.
Software engineers have recognized this duality and developed a solution that allows employees to track expenses on their smartphones. This makes tedious expense reporting a natural part of the work process, without the need to save receipts and remember to do them later.
Tools like Certify and Expensify helped add some polish to the process. This makes it a little less stressful and helps avoid backlogs.
content management system
Some organizations can maintain an online presence using a simple WordPress site. However, content management is often more complex for associations with decades of material to maintain and share. Decisions about content can be complicated.
Therefore, you should rethink your content management system (CMS) strategy. Today, the association’s content is available in more places, including apps, various social networks, and increasingly complex digital formats. If your CMS can’t keep up, it may be holding back your ambitions.
In recent years, new types of content management platforms have become less centralized and more dependent on application programming interfaces (APIs) to deliver content wherever it is needed. Headless CMS platforms, which have been around for some time, are key to this trend. So are software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms that can provide an easy-to-use interface for employees who actually need to manage content.
If you think you can’t migrate from a legacy CMS, check to see if your existing system offers a headless mode (for example, Drupal has a headless mode). , for example, RSS can serve.
Association management system
Like any CMS platform, AMS has undergone many changes in recent years, much shaped by the rise of cloud and SaaS-based solutions.
SaaS has brought a more user-friendly AMS experience. This may breathe a sigh of relief to non-technical employees who have to use such systems. With that in mind, the AMS technology that the association deploys should be considered both front-end and back-end, as ease of use is key.
A key feature to look for in a modern AMS platform is easy integration with other services. One of the most important tools to enable this, and an emerging trend in the association sector in recent years, is Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS). We provide the best tools while maintaining your existing AMS.
The growth of iPaaS as a key tool in the association speaks to the role of data portability in AMS solutions. If the solution is treated like an island, it can hinder potential productivity gains.
Finally, it’s worth keeping in mind the various mergers and commercial deals in the AMS sector that could impact services and use cases. The owner of Community Brands, a big player in the AMS space, recently considered selling its company, which could cause turmoil if that happened. Be mindful of your relationships with AMS partners and avoid confusion.
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